SUMMER TOWN MEETING
7:00 PM Town Office Meeting Room
Tuesday August 4, 2009
Present: Stephen White Chairman, William Roach Vice-Chairman, Fred Gallup, Charlotte Brown, Donna Nashawaty Town Manager.
Also Present: Norm Bernaiche, Scott Blewitt, Tony Bergeron, David Bailey, Betty Ramspott, John Walden, Chief David Cahill, Chief Dan Ruggles, Katie Richardson Intertown Record. (See attached sign-in sheet for residents in attendance)
The meeting was called to order by Stephen White, Chairman at 7:00PM
Stephen White, Chairman Board of Selectmen
•Chairman White introduced the Board to the audience.
• Chairman White asked the residents to voice their thoughts on continuing the Summer Town Meeting and how the Board can improve the communication with the taxpayers. •Chairman White also introduced the Town Department Heads.
Donna Nashawaty, Town Manager
•Donna Nashawaty assured the residents that the Town of Sunapee has an open door policy regarding questions. A resident does not have to wait for a Summer Town Meeting to ask a question or voice a concern.
•Donna Nashawaty explained the parts and process of a tax bill. The tax bill is broken down in 4 sections: town government, school-2 parts state education and local property tax and the County tax. If you take all 4 of these sections and add them up its gives you the total tax rate. The total assessed value on your tax bill is every 1,000 dollars worth of value is multiplied by the tax rate.
•Donna Nashawaty gave the details of the Town website: www.town.sunapee.nh.us , where you can subscribe to news announcements, committee meeting minutes and recreation events. The website also has the Planning, Zoning or Recreation forms available online. Donna Nashawaty is very proud of the Town website and the fact that the Town’s major meeting minutes (Board of Selectmen, Planning and Zoning) are posted and available on the web within the 5 business days that is required by the Right to Know Law.
•Donna Nashawaty also wanted to acknowledge all the staff throughout the Town. Complaints are handled promptly and the programs and services provided by the staff are impressive.
•Donna Nashawaty thanked the staff for making her job easier and the Board for having the confidence in her for the upcoming year.
Norm Bernaiche, Tri-Town Assessor
•Norm Bernaiche explained that under State law you have to be between 90 and 110 % (equalization value) in the year of certification, the Town must be re-certified every 5 years. The last certification in Sunapee took place in 2006 and the figure was in the 90’s. The Town will have to be re-certified in 2011. Norm Bernaiche stated that the Assessing Department watches the relationship between assessments and sale prices and this past year the Town was at 93.5% of market value.
•Norm Bernaiche explained the features of the new on-line GIS system.
Scott Blewitt, Recreation
•Scott Blewitt went over his goals and the programs he has implemented since becoming the Recreation Director 5 years ago. One of Scott’s goals is to have recreation programs for all ages.
•Scott Blewitt talked about the plans to develop of Harry Tilson Park (Ski Tow Hill), the land that was left to the Town by Mr. Tilson for recreational purposes.
•Scott Blewitt has been talking with Gil Pierce regarding a children playground that will be donated to the Town in the name of Lynn Pierce, his mother.
Tony Bergeron, Garage, Roads & Recycling
•Tony Bergeron spoke on the Transfer Station; solid waste is down by one ton in the first 6 months of this year and recycling continues to be widely practiced in town.
•Tony Bergeron reports that this past winter had no major storms and it was a relatively mild Spring. This summer has been very wet, but according to Tony Bergeron the amount of rain is the same as in the last 5 years. The annual precipitation should be around 40 inches, this year, to date, it is at 30.34inches.
•Tony Bergeron answered questions from the residents: trimming trees along the roads and the schedule for paving town roads.
David Bailey, Water & Sewer
•David Bailey informed the residents that because the department will be using a new chemical that the water might have a funny taste to it. If so, he instructed the residents to call the Water & Sewer Dept.
•David Bailey talked about the Water & Sewer Commission working to upgrade the water treatment plant, which is about 35 years old and functioning at 60% capacity.
•David Bailey reminded residents that it is a “no-no” to pump sump pump water into the sewer system, that water can be pumped right onto the ground. David Bailey also asked that the residents not put grease down their drains.
Betty Ramspott, Town Clerk/Tax Collector
•Betty Ramspott reminded the residents that as of August 1st, the state portion of auto registrations will increase, but the Board of Selectmen decided not to raise the municipal agent fee from $2.50 to $3.00.
•Betty Ramspott reported a 30% increase in boat registrations, and encourages people from other towns to register their boats in Sunapee, as a portion of the fee goes to the Town.
•Betty Ramspott reminded the residents that she can not take post dated checks and must deposit checks she receives the same day.
John Walden, Library
•John Walden went over the new programs being offered at the library such as wireless internet and Kindle ereaders.
•John Walden reported circulation is up 25% and July was the busiest month on record.
•John Walden said the plans for the new library were on hold because of the economy.
Chief David Cahill, Police
•Chief Cahill reviewed the changes within the department; counters installed to the phones and in the lobby to track incoming calls and visitors. The computer installed in 3 of the cruisers that can run plate and license numbers.
•Chief Cahill reported on the sobriety checkpoints the department has conducted with New London, Bradford and Sutton.
•Chief Cahill reported that on June 27th Biff Raney, who was involved in law enforcement for 50 years in various surrounding towns and was the summer harbor officer passed away. Josh Fisher has replaced him.
Chief Dan Ruggles, Fire
•Chief Ruggles stated that the department, to date, has received 242 calls and have had no major incidents, such as a structure fire in Town, but have helped Newbury, Newport and New London.
•Chief Ruggles reported that in training; 2 people passed Basic EMT, 1 in Firefighter I.
•Chief Ruggles reported the State of NH Came and mapped the Town for 911.
•Chief Ruggles also reported on the new program called Care Trak. The program offers tracking bracelets for individuals who are prone to wander off, such as Alzheimer’s or Down syndrome. The program is offered to residents of Sunapee at no cost.
•Chairman White opened the discussion regarding the Summer Town Meeting. The consensus was to continue having the yearly meeting.
•Chairman White thanked the residents for their interest in attending and questions.
Motion to adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 9:23PM
Submitted by,
Barbara Vaughn
Administrative Assistant Approved:_____________
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Stephen White, Chairman Charlotte Brown
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William Roach, Vice-Chairman Frederick Gallup
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Emma M. Smith
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